ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit giving Purdue some love

You know the bandwagon is filling up this season. It’s almost full, but there’s room for ESPN’s Kirk Herbsteit to join the party.

During an appearance on ESPN’s Mike and Mike radio show this morning, Herbstreit – a former quarterback at Ohio State – not only picked Purdue to beat Michigan but to win the Big Ten outright.

“I look at two upsets this week in the Big Ten,” Herbstreit said. “I think Northwestern goes on the road and is able to knock off Penn State and I think Purdue is able to knock off Michigan.”

Without being asked, Herbstreit later said: ”I like Purdue to win the Big Ten outright, Big Ten champions, holding up the trophy and going to the Rose Bowl. I think Purdue is now the team to beat in the Big Ten but I do like Northwestern.

“Could you imagine a Purdue-Northwestern Big Ten championship. Nothing says the state of the Big Ten like Purdue against Northwestern in the Big Ten championship in 2012, with all due respect.”

The last comment is viewed as a knock on the Big Ten, which deserves its share this season for the lack of quality wins and horrible losses outside of conference play.

National pundits are searching for a Big Ten team to support since Ohio State and Penn State are ineligible to play in the conference title game and in a bowl game.

But the league will have a team in the Rose Bowl no matter how bad the league’s perception is. We’re all waiting to see if the Boilermakers make Herbstreit look brilliant when it all said and done.